Do you want to bring more art into your life from the comfort of your own home? Would you like to improve your drawing skills? Several local museums provide virtual programs for free that may enhance your life. Check out these gems!
San Jose Museum of Art (SJMA)
Your first stop is the Museum at Home page of the San Jose Museum of Art website. For short 2-3 minute art videos on topics such as shading 101 or paper mache basics, link on the education Facebook page. New videos are added frequently on subjects for adults and children. For additional short videos, click on Maker Day 2020.
Click on Public Programs for a calendar of virtual events. Every Wednesday from noon-12:30 pm, participate online in the Art-Fix Wednesdays program in which SJMA docents show and discuss two works of art from the exhibits. Access the artist talk series by clicking on Video.
SJMA offers a variety of virtual programs for classrooms. Teachers, you may want to check out the Education tab!
Cantor Art Center at Stanford
The Cantor Art Center offers a Museums from Home page to explore Stanford art museums virtually. Scroll down to Second Sundays for family-friendly art activities every second Sunday of the month. Corresponding activities guides may be downloaded. Archived activity videos are shown below the upcoming event. Check out last July's video, Exploring Art through Sound and Motion: Inspired by Nick Cave's Soundsuits!
Adults may be interested in the artist talks or popular videos such as Rodin's Art in Medical Diagnosis.
The Children's Discovery Museum provides 5-10 minute art videos on the Virtual Purple Museum page. A list of supplies and instructions may be downloaded. Additional art projects may be found under Art Experiences. Science experiments can be found under Science Activities.
San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles
The San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles offers several virtual programs. Click on Textile Talks for future Zoom presentations. Past videos are also available. See artwork spotlights and artist interviews for behind-the-scenes highlights and inspiring makers. Fiber Art 101 and Makerspace provides tutorials on various fiber art techniques and DIY activities for all ages.
Chopsticks Alley Art promotes Southeast Asian cultural heritage through the shared creative expression of art. See three 6-7 minute art videos for all ages. In the past, Chopsticks Alley Art has distributed 250 art kits to children so keep checking for future free kits.
"Fragments" exhibit will be at Evergreen Valley College from January 15-March 31. Sign up for the Zoom presentation on Friday, January 15 from 5:30-6:30 pm. This program includes a performance by Vietnamese Lasalian Youth Troupe.
Institute of Contemporary Art of San Jose
The Institute of Contemporary Art of San Jose provides a virtual gallery of exhibits. Just click on the exhibit you wish to view!
De Saisset Museum at Santa Clara University
Don't miss three virtual exhibitions at De Saisset Museum.
Resources at Santa Clara County Library District
SCCLD has several resources for art as well. Children can participate in art projects with the Art Club on SCCLD Facebook on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 4 pm. Archive videos are available through SCCLD Facebook as well.
CreativeBug is an arts and crafts database with thousands of how-to video tutorials from How to Doodle and Paint an Animal Portrait to Manga Drawing or making Galaxy Slime.
And don't forget to put art books, drawing books, and art DVD on hold from the SCCLD catalog.
